Yard Dog Charlie returns for another season of Mardi Gras Mondays
This Monday, Oct. 28, Yard Dog Charlie will return to Woody’s Waterside for another season of Mardi Gras Monday. He performs from 6-9 p.m.
Yard Dog Charlie played his first show as a solo artist in November 2007 at The Hog Fish Grill which is now The Low Key Tiki.
“The owner, Sylvia, wanted to book the band The Yard Dogs, who were popular at the time, but couldn’t afford the fee,” Charlie said. “I was preparing to start my solo career to fill in some dates, but wasn’t near ready yet. The owner wanted the sound of a ‘one man band’ using backing tracks and playing some of the instruments himself.”
Charlie was given a 30-day deadline to be ready.
“Oh well, nothing like a little pressure,” Charlie said. “I had never played as a solo before — only in bands, so I had no idea what he was getting into.”
Charlie played his first solo show on Monday, Nov. 12, 2008. It was a huge success and soon he was playing every Monday at the Hog Fish, which he billed as Mardi Gras Monday. Unfortunately, Hogfish went out of business but Woody’s (the old Double Nickel) had opened.
The Yard Dogs had played there a number of times, and the new owner, Eric Zeisloft, had kept the band on at the new place. Since there was nothing going on at Woody’s on Mondays, Charlie started Mardi Gras Monday at Woody’s.
“Since then Mardi Gras Monday has become an island tradition,” Charlie said. “People from all over the world come there, including the charitable events we hold on Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day and the annual Christmas benefit and Early Bird New Year’s Eve Party.
“I’d like to invite everyone on the island to join us on Monday, Oct. 28, for the season kick-off of Mardi Gras Monday!”
Woody’s Waterside is located at 3051 Stringfellow Road, St. James City, FL 33956. Call 239-283-5555 for additional information.
For more about Yard Dog Charlie, please visit his website at www.yarddogcharlie.com.